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Loyle Carner to headline Kirkstall Abbey as part of new all-day music event

Is it summer yet?

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall - 26th January 2026

Loyle Carner has been announced as the headliner for ‘Above All Else’ a new curated event that will form part of the Live at Kirkstall Abbey concert series. 

Boy oh boy are we excited about this one.

An all-day celebration of music and culture is coming to Kirkstall Abbey, ‘Above All Else’ is a new event from independent Leeds promoters Futuresound with forward-thinking curation at its heart.

And who better to headline its debut than Loyle Carner.

Released last summer, Loyle Carner’s fourth full-length album Hopefully! reasserted his position at the forefront of the UK’s emotionally-charged hip hop movement.

Images: Supplied

First finding his voice in 2013 with the A Little Late EP, it was Loyle Carner’s debut album 2017’s Yesterday’s Gone that brought the artist to national attention and earned himself a Mercury Music Prize nomination and BRIT award nominations for British Breakthrough Act and British Male Solo Artist at just 23 years old.

Joining Loyle Carner at ‘Above All Else’ will be a full supporting line-up including acclaimed Grammy and Ivor-Novello award nominated songwriter Jordan Rakei and Kokoroko, the London based sextet.

Completing the line-up is much-hyped Birmingham rapper Kofi Stone and rising Dublin collective Bricknasty.

Also announced for Live At Kirkstall Abbey 2026 are revered British multi-hyphenates The Streets, reunited Leeds indie heroes The Sunshine Underground, art rock royalty The Maccabees will be performing their only northern gig and the hugely successful Kirkstall Abbey Comedy Festival is gearing up for a return featuring Dara Ó’Brien, Jason Manford, Lucy Beamount and more.

Kirkstall postcode pre-sale for local residents (LS4, LS5, LS13 & LS18) will open at 10am on Wednesday 28 January here with general sale opening at 10am on Friday 30 January here.

Read more: Arctic Monkeys release first song in four years as part of upcoming all-star War Child album

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Arctic Monkeys release first song in four years as part of upcoming all-star War Child album

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

The full track list for the charity album has been released, featuring Fontaines D.C., Pulp, Olivia Rodrigo and loads more.

The legendary Sheffield indie group have been largely silent (as usual) since the release of their last album, The Car, back in 2022.

But today, the monkeys are back with a brand new song titled 'Opening Night' , in support of War Child's upcoming project to provide aid for children living through war. 

That project being 'HELP(2)' - a brand new collaborative album inspired by the landmark 1995 release 'HELP' to engage music lovers globally in support of the charity's vital work.

The new album will be released on Friday 6 March and was brought to life through close collaboration with Abbey Road Studios, recorded predominantly across one extraordinary week in November 2025 under the stewardship of acclaimed producer James Ford. 

There's so me pretty huge names on the album who have contributed, including Fontaines D.C, Pulp, Damon Albarn, Wet Leg, Young Fathers and so many more.

Recorded in a single day in 1995, the original ‘HELP’ album raised over £1.2 million, enabling War Child to provide vital support to thousands of children caught in the Bosnian conflict. 

The full track list to the album is: ‘HELP(2)’ Tracklist:

  1. Arctic Monkeys - Opening Night
  2. Damon Albarn, Grian Chatten & Kae Tempest - Flags 
  3. Black Country, New Road - Strangers
  4. The Last Dinner Party - Let’s do it again!
  5. Beth Gibbons - Sunday Morning
  1. Arooj Aftab & Beck - Lilac Wine
  2. King Krule - The 343 Loop
  3. Depeche Mode - Universal Soldier
  4. Ezra Collective & Greentea Peng - Helicopters
  5. Arlo Parks - Nothing I Could Hide
  6. English Teacher & Graham Coxon - Parasite
  7. Beabadoobee - Say Yes
  1. Big Thief - Relive, Redie
  2. Fontaines D.C. - Black Boys on Mopeds
  3. Cameron Winter - Warning 
  4. Young Fathers - Don’t Fight the Young
  5. Pulp - Begging for Change
  6. Sampha - Naboo 
  7. Wet Leg - Obvious
  8. Foals - When the War is Finally Done 
  9. Bat For Lashes - Carried my girl 
  10. Anna Calvi, Ellie Rowsell, Nilüfer Yanya & Dove Ellis - Sunday Light
  11. Olivia Rodrigo - The Book of Love

You can pre-order the album here and listen to the new song by the Arctic Monkeys here.

Read more: Arctic Monkeys are releasing new music THIS WEEK as part of an upcoming War Child project

Featured image - Phoebe Fox (Supplied)


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Arctic Monkeys are releasing new music THIS WEEK as part of an upcoming War Child project

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

Arctic Monkeys are back in business, with new music on the way later this week.

The legendary Sheffield indie group have been largely silent (as usual) since the release of their last album, The Car, back in 2022.

But today, War Child has confirmed that the Alex Turner-fronted group are coming back with a new song, in support of the charity's upcoming project to provide aid for children living through war. 

Arctic Monkeys are the first to be announced for the new War Child Records project, but if you leap to some conclusions based on who the new account is following, there are set to be some BIG names involved.

As well as Arctic Monkeys, War Child Records is also following 32 artists including Fontaines DC, Olivia Rodrigo, Wet Leg, Foals, Damon Albarn, Pulp, Depeche Mode, English Teacher, and Beck - to name just a few.

Based on this afternoon's teaser announcement, the new Arctic Monkeys single will be live at 3pm on Thursday 22 January.

War Child has said: "There is a group of artists who are working on something important in support of War Child. There will be more information coming soon.

"No child should be part of war. Ever. For over 30 years, War Child has worked in some of the world's most dangerous places to protect, educate, support mental health and stand up for the rights of children.

"Today our challenge is bigger than ever.

"When the legendary HELP album was released in 1995, 10% of the world's children were affected by conflict.

"That figure has almost doubled to 19%, affecting 520 million children. Right now, 1 in 5 children worldwide are at risk of losing their childhoods to conflict.

"Help us support children to heal and grow for a safer, brighter future. Donate and sign up to hear more news about forthcoming music releases."

You can sign up for the latest War Child Records announcements HERE.

Read more: You can now apply to play at Tramlines Festival 2026 as part of programme to support emerging artists

Featured image: Publicity picture

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